Toshiba HD DVD Firmware Upgrade V2.0 Now Available

As first reported last month, word of an internal beta version of the latest upgrade for Toshiba's HD-A1 and HD-XA1 players, dubbed version 2.0, had already leaked out onto the internet. Today's official release seems to deliver on all the features promised earlier, including enhancements in network connectivity, improved video playback, and fixes for problems some users had experienced with HDMI connection.

But most exciting of all is support for full Dolby TrueHD support, which has so far eluded early adopters. Thanks to the upgrade, support for Dolby TrueHD is extended from two channels to 5.1, which will be available in full resolution on the HDMI and analog 5.1 outputs and down-mixed to a DTS bitstream on the SPDIF output.

This latest firmware upgrade is available by direct download via your player's Ethernet port, or by contacting Toshiba directly for a firmware CD, which the company will ship to all registered HD-A1 and HD-XA1 owners free of charge.

(Thanks to Luis R. for sending in the heads up. Got story suggestions of your own? Send them our way via our handy Feedback Form.)